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Luka Doncic produced a 32-point triple double during Sunday’s Game 2 showing for Dallas, though coughed up eight turnovers – Boston had 10 as a team – and missed four of eight free-throw attempts, pointing to those two factors as a key reason behind their 105-98 defeat. While it’s natural for their franchise centrepiece to absorb blame, their shortcomings are much deeper than that.
Continue reading “NBA Finals: Doncic’s triple-double not enough as Dallas dented again in Game 2”
Pictures often tell the full story and they do here, Boston again rallying from a big deficit – 18 points just as Dallas did earlier in the week – to stun Indiana on the Pacers’ home floor and take a historically unassailable series lead in their Eastern Conference finals matchup, punctuated by Jrue Holiday’s clutch defensive play late on. Unwell and struggling with his shot, that didn’t matter. Continue reading “Holiday hassles in the clutch on off-night, Boston take commanding 3-0 series lead”
After his season-high 45 points wasn’t enough to see them overcome Charlotte in a 121-118 overtime defeat early on Tuesday, Jayson Tatum played through illness and produced a decisive contribution during their narrow win over Eastern Conference rivals Milwaukee – the star forward is glad to be back home. Continue reading “Tatum shakes off illness in team effort as Celtics lead from start-to-finish vs. Bucks”
After averaging 20.3 points, 3.5 assists and 43.4% from three in 60 regular season games last term, Philadelphia 76ers’ shooting guard Tyrese Maxey has been tipped by many insiders to crack into the All-Star conversation in 2023-24. Judging by what his teammates and new head coach have been saying as the new season draws closer, him taking another leap shouldn’t be a surprise.
Continue reading “Embiid, Green and new head coach Nurse sing Tyrese Maxey’s praises before Year 4”
Two-time regular season MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo produced 33 points on 13-of-17 shooting, alongside 14 rebounds and six assists in a dominant display against Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, taking them closer to securing the East’s #1 seed. Yet the franchise feel voter fatigue is stopping their star from getting the MVP recognition he deserves, yet again. Continue reading “Bucks lament voter fatigue in MVP race, after another big Giannis showing”
After a turnover-heavy first-half, the Milwaukee Bucks were down by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, but Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 40-point effort – alongside some big Jrue Holiday defensive plays late on – helped Mike Budenholzer’s men silence Boston inside the TD Garden. Read on, to relive my play-by-play live commentary from an enthralling Game 5 encounter.
Continue reading “Relive the action: NBA Playoffs East Semi-finals – Bucks 110-107 Celtics, Game 5”
Leading the league in points per game and posting a monstrous 42-point double-double against the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks overnight, Joel Embiid is a clear MVP favourite before this All-Star break. With James Harden still to integrate after last week’s big trade, how will the dynamics shift as the big man hopes to end years of playoff frustration? Continue reading “Joel Embiid’s masterful Milwaukee night reinforces his MVP credentials, with Harden to come”
Two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, as the Milwaukee Bucks rallied from a seven-point deficit early after half-time to surge back ahead of a spirited but inefficient Phoenix Suns effort. Clinching their first NBA title for 50 years with a raucous Game 6 home atmosphere to savour, Mike Budenholzer’s men did it the hard way.
Continue reading “Bucks 106-98 Suns: Giannis’ iconic 50-piece carries Milwaukee to first title since 1971”
During Monday’s NBA Finals media conference, the Phoenix Suns’ star shooting guard was bullish when asked about what many believe has been a fortunate run to the league’s showpiece event – profiting against three Western Conference teams suffering pivotal injuries.
Continue reading “Devin Booker unapologetic on criticism of Suns’ injury-impacted NBA Finals run”
The Stan Van Gundy era in New Orleans has endured an underwhelming start this season, with some reported tension between the veteran head coach and his players – merely seven months after agreeing a four-year deal to succeed Alvin Gentry. How long will things continue like this? Continue reading “Time ticking: Stan Van Gundy has work to do, as Pelicans players unhappy”
As reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks agreed a four-year maximum contract extension with star guard Jrue Holiday worth up to $160m – a move tying up their core trio up for multiple seasons, hoping to finally get over the hump in the postseason.
Continue reading “Jrue Holiday signs four-year, $160m maximum extension deal with Bucks”
In a season where multiple players have staked their claim for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s MVP crown, the power forward produced a dominant showing to reinforce the notion that he’s quietly improving with less of the spotlight on Milwaukee after consecutive playoff disappointments, while the focus is centred around other contenders across both conferences.
Continue reading “Bucks 127-109 Blazers: Giannis’ 47-point effort exposes Portland’s ever-present issues”
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